Chapter 1:

Making
Measurements
 Table of Contents

1.1 Measuring length

and volume
1.3 Measuring time
How we can measure time,
How can we measure and which instruments we
length, and what can use to measure time
instruments are used to
measure

1.2 Density
Learn about density, and
how we can calculate
density
 Learning Objectives
In this chapter, students should learn how to:

Core Supplement

• Use and describe the use of rules and measuring cylinders to • Understand that a micrometre screw gauge is used
find a length or a volume. to measure very small distances.

• Use and describe the use of clocks and devices, both analogue
and digital, for measuring an interval of time.

• Obtain an average value for a small distance and for a short

interval of time by measuring multiples (including the period of a
pendulum).
 SI Units:
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram
 SI Units:
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram

Time  second
 SI Units:
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram

Time  second

Length  metre
 SI Units:
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram kg

Time  second

Length  metre
 SI Units:
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram kg 1 kilogram (1kg)

Time  second

Length  metre
 SI Units:
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram kg 1 kilogram (1kg)

Time  second 1 gram (g) = 1/1000kg = 10-3kg

Length  metre
 SI Units:
1 tonne = 1000kg = 103kg
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram kg 1 kilogram (1kg)

Time  second 1 gram (g) = 1/1000kg = 10-3kg

Length  metre 1 milligram (mg) = 1/1 000g = 1/1 000 000kg = 10 -6kg
 SI Units:
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram

Time  second s

Length  metre
 SI Units: 1 millisecond (ms)

= 1/1000s = 10-3s
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram

Time  second s

Length  metre
 SI Units: 1 millisecond (ms)

= 1/1000s = 10-3s
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram 1 microsecond (µs)

= 1/1 000 000s = 10-6s

Time  second s

Length  metre
 SI Units: 1 millisecond (ms)

= 1/1000s = 10-3s
(Le Système International d’Unites)

Mass  kilogram 1 microsecond (µs)

= 1/1 000 000s = 10-6s

Time  second s

1 nanosecond (ns)

Length  metre = 1/1 000 000 000s = 10-9s

 SI Units:
(Le Système International d’Unites)
1 metre (m)

Mass  kilogram

Time  second

Length  metre m
 SI Units: 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Système International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass  kilogram

Time  second

Length  metre m
 SI Units: 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Système International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass  kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

Time  second

Length  metre m
 SI Units: 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Système International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass  kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

1 millimetre (cm) = 1/1000m = 10-3m

Time  second

Length  metre m
 SI Units: 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Système International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass  kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

1 millimetre (mm) = 1/1000m = 10-3m

Time  second

1 micrometre (µm) = 1/1 000 000m = 10-6m

Length  metre m
 SI Units: 1 kilometre (km) = 1 000m = 103m

(Le Système International d’Unites)

1 metre (m)

Mass  kilogram 1 centimetre (cm) = 1/100m = 10-2m

1 millimetre (mm) = 1/1000m = 10-3m

Time  second

1 micrometre (µm) = 1/1 000 000m = 10-6m

Length  metre m
1 nanometre (nm) = 1/1 000 000 000m = 10-9m
SI Units:
 OK, so you think
you’ve got all this ‘unit’

SI Units: stuff? What units

would be most
suitable for the
following?

The mass of
a shoe =
kilogram
Time for an
athlete to race =
second

The length of a The mass of a

bacterium = boat =
micrometre tonne
 (1.1) Measuring Length
• Rulers can be used to measure small lengths of a few cm.
• They are able to measure to the nearest mm.

• When measuring larger lengths (of a few meters), a tape measure is more appropriate 
 (1.1) Measuring Length
• For measurements to be precise using a ruler, some points
must be taken into consideration:
a) The wire must be straight, laid closely alongside the ruler.
(Tricky to do with bent wire).
b) Ends of wire need to be cut neatly.
c) Ruler needs to be calibrated well (ruler markings are 1mm
apart, but the separations maybe wide or narrow).
d) Line the wire up against zero on scale, because of mark width.
e) Reading the measurement of the scale itself is tricky to judge.

• For measurement of small lengths as thickness of piece of

paper:
a) Measure the thickness of a stack of papers (200 – 500 papers
or more) using a ruler.
b) Take measurements several times, then divide it by their
number to find thickness of one sheet.
(1.1) Making Measurements
Compass
 (1.1) Measuring Length
Vernier calipers
• Used for more precise measurements with smaller objects.
• The calipers have two scales, the main scale and the Vernier scale.
• Together, these scales give a measurement of the distance between the two
inner faces of the jaws.

Virtual Vernier Caliper - simulator in 0.05 Millimeter | Pr

of. Eduardo J. Stefanelli
 (1.1) Measuring Length

Vernier
Calipers

Measurement using the Vernier

scale = 1.16cm

Gap being
measured
 (1.1) Measuring Length
Micrometer screw gauge
• When measuring very small lengths (less than a centimeter) a micrometer is
the most appropriate instrument

• It has two scales. The main scale is on the shaft, and the fractional scale is on
the rotating barrel. The fractional scale has 50 divisions, so that one complete
turn represents 0.50mm
 (1.1) Measuring Length
Micrometer screw gauge

Virtual Micrometer in Hundredths Millimeter - Simulator

| Prof. Eduardo J.
Stefanelli

Micrometers can measure distances to the nearest 1/100th of a mm

 (1.1) Measuring Volumes
• There are two approaches to measuring volumes depending on whether the shape is regular or
not:.

• For a regularly shaped object, such as a rectangular block, measure the lengths of the three different
sides and multiply them together.
1. Volume = length x width x height.
2. You only need to know one side to figure out the volume of a cube.
3. The units of measure for volume are cubic units or liters.
4. Volume is in three-dimensions.
5. You can multiply the sides in any order
6. Which side you call length, width or height doesn’t matter. 3
cm
4 cm
Ex. Find the volume of this cuboid.
Ans: 144cm 12 cm
 (1.1) Measuring volumes
Volume of a regular solid

Length Radius

Height
Height

Width

Volume of rectangular block = length x width x height Volume of a cylinder= π x radius2 x height
 (1.1) Measuring volumes
• Measuring cylinders can be used to measure the volume of liquids or, by measuring the change in
volume (liquid displacement), the volume of an irregular shape.

• ALWAYS measure from the bottom of the meniscus

• Read steps page 4
• Volume of irregular object =
reading after or V2 – reading before or V1

So, the answer is 60-50= 10cm(cubed)

 (1.1) Measuring volumes
Converting volume units:
 (1.2) Density
• Density: rho (ρ) is a ratio of a mass for a
substance to its volume
• ρ = Mass/Volume
• The SI unit of density is kg/m3

• The mass of an object is the amount of matter it is

made of.

• Mass is measured in kilograms, while Volume is

measured in meters cubed

• Density is property of a material. It tells us how

concentrated its mass is.
(1.2) Density

UNITS OF DENSITY
(1.2) Density
 (1.2) Density
• How to find the density of a liquid (practically):
1. Place a measuring cylinder on a balance.
2. Set the balance to zero. Now pour liquid into the cylinder.
3. Read the volume from the scale on the cylinder.
4. The balance shows the mass.
• When liquids with different densities are poured into the same container,
they arrange themselves so the liquid with lowest density will be at the top
and the ones with the highest density at the bottom.
• This is because the denser liquids displace the less dense liquids.
 Calculating density
1. What is the density of a block of steel if it has
a mass of 9,360g and a volume of 1,200cm3?

= 9 360 = 7.8 g/cm3 V

1 200
3. What is the volume of a block of ice if it has a density of
2. What is the mass of a block of gold if it has a 0.92 g/cm3 and a mass of 12,462g?
density of 19.3 g/cm3 and a volume of 540 cm3?

V = 12 462 = 13,546 cm3

0.92
m = 540 x 19.3 = 10,422 g
 (1.3) Measuring Time
• Stop-clocks and stopwatches can be used to measure time intervals.

• An analogue clock is like a traditional clock, whose hands move around the clock face. You find the time by
looking at where the hands pointing at the scale. It measure time intervals to no better than the nearest second.

• A digital clock is one that gives a direct reading of the time in numerals. For example, a digital stopwatch might
show time of 23.45s. It records time to a precision of at least one hundredth of a second.

Analogue Digital
(1.3) Measuring Time: Light gates
 (1.3) Measuring Time
• Measuring short intervals of time:
1. A mass, called a plumb bob, hangs on the end of a string.
2. The string is clamped tightly at the top between two wooden jaws.
3. If you pull the bob gently to one side and release it, the pendulum will swing from side to side.

• The time for one complete oscillation of a pendulum (when it swings from left to right and back again) is
called its period.
• A single period is too short a time to measure accurately. B C
• A pendulum swings at a steady rate, use a stopwatch to measure the time for a large number of oscillations A
(perhaps 20 or 50), and calculate the average time per oscillation.
• Any inaccuracy in time at which the stopwatch is started and stopped will be
One complete swing =
much less significant if you measure the total time for a large number of oscillations. ABACA

Eg. Time for 25 swings = 46 seconds.

How can we measure the time taken for one complete Time for 1 swing = 46/25 = 1.84 seconds
swing of the pendulum (= Period)?
Measure the time for 25 swings and divide the result
by 25
 (1.3) Measuring Time
• Factors affecting measurement of time of one complete oscillation:

1. Length of the pendulum

2. Acceleration due to gravity

Factors NOT affecting measurement of time of one complete oscillation:

3. Mass of plumb/bob of pendulum.

4. Shape of plumb/bob.

https://youtu.be/02w9lSii_Hs